Chapter 1First Week of December
The strains of “Joy to the World” blared from Noel Bright’s cell phone as he approached the café. He stopped on his way in, turned around, and stepped away from the entrance. His sister’s perky face appeared on his phone.
“Erin?”
“Well?” she asked, breathless.
Noel laughed. “I haven’t even met with him yet. I just got to the café.”
“Oh.” Erin definitely sounded disappointed. “Is he already there, do you think?”
He glanced around the parking lot and saw the police SUV marked Haydon Cliff PD parked a few rows down. “Yeah, his car’s here. He’s always on time.”
Erin squealed. “I can’t believe he’s going to ask you.”
His stomach flipped a little. “Erin, I don’t really know that’s what this is about. It’s probably wishful thinking.”
His boyfriend, Wesley
